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The North Durham Integrated Community Sustainability Plan

Round table discussion with community members.

To pool knowledge and reduce spending, three large townships with small populations adopted a joint plan to improve economic, environmental and social conditions in Ontario's rural North Durham region. The township councils of Uxbridge, Brock, and Scugog approved the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan in January 2011.

The plan, developed by a cross-section of community members will create a region-wide economic development strategy; promote the sale of premium-priced local farm products; protect natural habitats by setting rules for private wells and septic systems; cut municipal greenhouse gas emissions; and work to attract artists to enhance the area's cultural appeal.

A sustainability committee tasked with implementing the plan will set project priorities and monitor progress.

Results

Environmental Economic Social
  • Twenty-eight per cent cut in 2008 municipal GHG emissions by 2015
  • Private well and septic system improvements to protect the watershed
  • Promotion of green building standards
  • Creation of a North Durham economic development strategy
  • Infrastructure investments to sustain economic growth and create a competitive advantage
  • Added value to farm products and protection of  prime agricultural land by promoting higher-valued locally grown goods  
  • Increasingly active, accessible, safe and affordable communities
  • More artists and cultural activities to add a creative edge to rural life
  • Broadening the appeal of outdoor education centres

Challenges

  • A shortfall in anticipated funding as two potential sponsors withdrew due to  slow economic growth
  • Recruiting participants from a full range of business, educational, cultural and environmental organizations as well as the community at large
  • Recognizing that a plan built from the bottom up would have more credibility among the public than one developed from the top down

Lessons learned

  • Inspire public buy-in by inviting community members to help design the plan. Advise councillors to stay in the background.  
  • Hire a consultant to manage the process. The project may require significant time of a staff member with other duties.
  • Concentrate on goals that realistically can be met, and build on those successes.

Resources

Partners and collaborators

Project contact

Ingrid Svelnis
Chief Administrative Officer
Township of Uxbridge, ON
T. 905-852-9181

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